Valentine’s Day on the Island

Published 10:01 am Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Oh! Chocolate

Oh! Chocolate and Valentine’s Day have a history – Karl and Gertie Krautheim opened the candy and gift business on the Island on Feb. 14, 1986. Their daughter and current owner Margo Masaoka said that February is one of the best months for chocolate.

Oh! Chocolate will offer pink champagne truffles and other seasonal treats for the holiday, as well as a usual selection of caramels, turtles and signature French-style chocolates.

The shop also offers candy-making classes for couples, or for groups of friends or mother-daughter pairs. Classes are held at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 28, March 14 and 21 and April 4 and 11, and cost $79 per person.

Mercer Island Florist

The Island’s only flower shop will be making large deliveries of red roses for Valentine’s Day, said owner Diane Larson.

The holiday falls on a Saturday this year, which could affect gift selection, she said.

Arrangements of succulents, orchids, roses and other flowers can be previewed and orders can be made at www.mercerislandflorist.com.

The flower shop was also founded with a love story. The previous owners, the Paynes, both passed away in 2014, but this February would have marked their 70th anniversary.

Island Books

The book shop will sell a selection of gifts, cards and love stories, but will also use the occasion to “give from the heart,” donating 20 percent of proceeds on Feb. 14 to Youth and Family Services.

Candies from Island Treats will be available for purchase. The bookstore will also sell heart-shaped soaps, jewelry and “the best selection of Valentine’s cards on the Island,” said owner Roger Page.

Kay Wilson has chosen the greeting cards at Island Books for 15 years. People come “from far and wide to shop from her intelligent and witty selections,” Page said.

“I have taken to going big on Valentine’s Day. You are all special (at least this day),” Page wrote in an email to Island book patrons. “I buy a pile of cards and give them to all the girls. You are all adorable. Everyone. I am not ashamed to work the odds. I carpet bomb my neighbors with love in the hopes at least one crooked valentine will appear at my door. It works for me. I suggest you do the same. We have stockpiles of cards and chocolate. Spread love.”

Chocolate class at the library for teens

Middle and high school students are invited to join pastry chef Laurie Pfalzer to learn how to make chocolate gifts for Valentine’s Day at 7 p.m., Feb. 11 at the Mercer Island library.

At the chocolate class, they will handroll truffles using dark chocolate ganache, learn to temper chocolate and make dark chocolate and peppermint bark, white chocolate popcorn and more.

At the end of class, they can package the gifts to give for Valentine’s Day, or take them home to enjoy.

Ingredients and cooking supplies will be provided.

Register online at kcls.org/programs.